The One Who Caused Djokovic’s Painful Loss.
The One Who Caused Djokovic’s Painful Loss
Reilly Opelka, who once reached as high as world number 17, made a powerful comeback after almost two years of injury layoff. His incredible performance in the Brisbane International 2025 shocked the tennis world when he defeated Novak Djokovic 7-6(6), 6-3 in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic’s Struggles Against Opelka’s Serves
Djokovic, known for his excellent return game, was unable to counter Opelka’s strong serving. Despite having a chance to break Opelka’s serve in the second set, Djokovic couldn’t capitalize, allowing Opelka to dominate the match.
Opelka’s Secret to Success
In his post-match interview, Opelka shared his strategy for success, emphasizing how he focused on his powerful serves and played without pressure. He mentioned, “If I hit my serves well, it’s very hard for the opponent to return.”
Djokovic Admits Room for Improvement
After the loss, Djokovic acknowledged that he couldn’t take advantage of his opportunities and needed to improve his game moving forward. This marks his first defeat to a player outside the top 250 since 2010, a reminder of how challenging the game can be even for tennis greats.
Opelka Advances to Semifinals
The win has propelled Opelka to the semifinals of the Brisbane International 2025, where he will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. This victory marks a positive return for Opelka after a lengthy absence due to injury.
A Wake-Up Call for Djokovic
For Djokovic, this unexpected defeat is a crucial reminder as he prepares for his upcoming challenge at the Australian Open 2025. With Opelka’s impressive serving and other strong opponents in his path, the journey to 100 ATP titles will be far from easy.
